Word of Mouth Travel Guide - Japan Hopper » Kyushu

Tranquil Kyushu Island; 1. Aso Volcano, the world largest caldera !

akko@hakata — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:06:04 +0000

After exciting Tokyo and traditional Kyoto, why not visiting tranquil Kyushu, where you can experience magic of nature, and what it bring out, such as onsen (hot spring) , beautiful nature, fresh local food, good sake, and friendly people!

Aso mountain is the general term referring to 5 mountains.
Nakadake (1592m) is one of them, and is the only one still active.
The photo above is the caldera, which can be seen if the weather and wind condition is all right.
The last large eruption happend 90,000 years ago.

This board tells gas condition, and whether or not you can go close to caldera.

When we say `Aso’, it includes the huge area including caldera. During harvest season, mountains are covered with golden pampas grass.

You can enjoy local food in Takamori Area.

Japanese people love to take souvenior photo.

On sunny days, Aso is a perfect touring route for motorbike riders.

Throughout Japan, you can find variety of softcreams, but this is something special!
(You can get this at Dai-Kan-Bo)

Beside pampas grass, what you can enjoy in this season (Oct-Nov) is cosmos flowers, and leaves starting to get color.

*To get to Kyushu Island, you can fly to Fukuoka Airport from Tokyo(1′45”)/Osaka(1′20”)/Nagoya(1′30”), or can take a Shinkansen Bullet Train, or fly from Asian countries such as Korea, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines. From Fukuoka Airport, you can take express trains to variety of destinations. Kyushu express trains are unique and is very comfortable. The view from express trains is something amazing !!

Katchaman’s Amazing JAPAN guide at Nara Power Spot (Sacred Place) “Sai Jinja Shrine in Summer [夏の狹井神社・奈良県]”

katchaman — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:04:18 +0000

Sai Jinja is the place to worship Omiwa Aramitama. They say that this god is to decrease illness. We can enter Mount Miwa from Sai Jinja. ( Entrance Fee 300 yen, No photo and eating) I climbed Mt. Miwa [Miwasan]. Very very peacefull! I felt so good at the top of Mt. Miwa! It took 90 min to the top.

Sai Jinja [狹井神社] is one of Omiwa Jinja’s sesshas [摂社] and located next to Omiwa Jinja [大神神社].

At the present time, it is possible to go into the mountain by permission of Sai Shrine, which is one of the Sessha shrines (attached shrines). However, there are several strict rules to observe including the prohibition of eating, drinking and photography. A lot of people come to worship this god, who created the country and is believed to have divine power over every industry and every aspect of people’s daily life.

Access: 15 minutes walk from Miwa Station on the JR Line. Or, 15 minutes walk from Miwamyojin Sando-guchi bus stop, which can be reached using the bus that departs from Sakurai Station on the JR or Kintetsu Line.

Katchaman’s Amazing JAPAN guide at Nara Power Spot (Sacred Place) “Oomiwa Jinaja Miwa-myojin in Summer [夏の大神神社・奈良県]”

katchaman — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:37:20 +0000

I can recommend Oomiwa Jinja [Miwa-myojin] as the best of shrines in Japan.

According to official website, since the reign of Sujin Tenno the tenth Imperial generation (about 2,000 years ago), the worshipping of this shrine has become popularized unusually, and moreover, since the middle age it has been worshipped as the Top Shrine (Ichi-no-miya) of Yamato pro-vince and has won popular faith as one of 22 shrines.　And, in the middle age, so called “Miwa shintoism” was advocated as a special religious philosophy, adding a system and philosophy to the ancient faith.

　Judging from the fact that the most of so called top shrines in the whole land are worshipping the branch soul of our great deity,we can see how extensive the divine merit is.

　As you can presently understand when you worship befor the steps of the sanctuary hall, there are varieties of prayers recited by the worshippers.　Some worshipper recites Oharae-no-kotoba, while another worshipper recites Prajna Sutra.　Thus, our great deity has won the deep faith as the deity of industry, medicine, prosperity of fortune, Iongevity, especiahy Yakuyoke (talisman against evils) and Hoyoke (talisman against directional curse) regardless of Shinto, Buddhism, Christianity or other religious sects.

Shooting date: July 14 2008

[Access] 10 minutes walk from Miwa Station on the JR Line. Or, 30 minutes walk from Miwamyojin Sando-guchi bus stop, which can be reached using the bus that departs from Sakurai Station on the JR or Kintetsu Line.

[Address] address
1422 Miwa, Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, 633-8538

Katchaman’s Amazing JAPAN guide at Nara Power Spot (Sacred Place) “Tenkawa Jinja - Tenkawa Daibenzaitensha in Summer[夏の天河大辨財天社・奈良県]

katchaman — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:15:38 +0000

I can recommend Daibenzaitensha as a sacred place in Japan.

Tenkawa-dai-benzaiten-sha is located in the center of Japan’s spiritual heartland, the Kii Mountain range, this shrine is filled with sacred energy emanating from the dense forest on the holy mountain Omine-san with No admittance to woman. Since the shrine’s principal object of worship, sheltered at the top of Mount Misen (alt. 1,895 m), is Benzaiten, the goddess of music and fine arts, many artists regularly perform concerts dedicated to the spirit. These attract considerable attention.

[Address] 107 Tsubonouchi, Tenkawa-mura, Yoshino-gun, Nara / Tel. 0747-63-0558

[Access]　We take a Kintetsu Yoshino Line from Abenobashi station(あべの橋駅) to Shimoichi-guchi station(下市口駅）. You will get off at Shimoichi-guchi(下市口駅). When get on for “Naka-iozumi(中庵住)” by Nara Traffic Bus(奈良交通バス) at here and get off at “Tenkawa-dai-bennzaiten-sha [天河大辨財天社]“, you will see a torii, shinto shrine gate.

Shooting date: July 14 2008

Katchaman’s Amazing JAPAN guide at Tokyo Fuchu city Power Spot [Sacred place] “Ohkunitama Shrine[大國魂神社・東京都府中市] in Summer”

katchaman — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:54:28 +0000

I went to Ohkunitama Shrine[大國魂神社] on July. The shrine was reportedly established in the year of 111 (A.D.) by a local ruler. The main god enshrined here is Ohkunitama or Ohkuninushi, who is one of the main gods in the Shinto religion. Ohkunitama is believed to be a great god who initiated the reclamation of the country and taught local people ways of living including agriculture, housing , closing and medicine. Thus, he was regarded as the founder of the Musashi region (Fuchu city is in this area), and was respected as protecting people there. Initially, local leaders (or powerful clans) (Kuninomiyatsuko) took care of the shrine, but after the year 645, the Yamato Imperial Government sent Kokushi (a government official appointed by the central government) to stay at the shrine and rule over the region. The shrine therefore played a role of a political center as well as religious in ancient times. Later, the shrine’s political nature was gradually diluted, and it has served a lot of people coming to pray for good fortune until this date.

Access: We can take the Keio line, and take off Fuchu station. Ohkunitama Shrine is within a 7 minute walk to the Fuchu station (Keio line).

Shooting date: July 27 2008

Katchaman’s Amazing JAPAN guide at Fukui Power Spot (Sacred Place) “Eiheiji Zen Temple in Summer[夏の永平寺・福井県]“

katchaman — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:26:51 +0000

I went to Eiheiji Zen Temple in this summer. Here is very peaceful!

It is one of the two head temples of the Soto sect of Buddhism. Eihei-ji was established in 1244 by Zen master Dogen Zenji (1200-1253), who studied Buddhism in China and introduced Soto Zen Buddhism to Japan.

Access: Echizen Railway Shosan Eiheiji line and get off at Eiheiji-guchi (25min, ￥440). The temple is about 10min walk from the station (turn right as you exit and go uphill).

Katchaman’s Amazing JAPAN guide at Fukui Katsuyama-shi Power Spot (Sacred Place) “Heisenji Hakusan Jinja Shrine” [平泉寺白山神社・福井県勝山市]

katchaman — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 07:49:20 +0000

According the government website (http://www.city.katsuyama.fukui.jp/english/kankou/kankou.htm#2heisenji), Heisenji Shrine is covered in a lush blanket of moss this tranquil shrine located on the foothills of sacred Mt.Hakusan offers a retreat from city life, just one of the many different faces of Katsuyama. Founded in 717 AD by Taicho Daishi, the shrine has remained untouched for several centuries leaving a piece of history as it once was. Surrounding by a huge cedar forest the tree cover creates a natural refrigerator, and in the summer the temple has become a popular walking ground in town. I can recommend one of the best places in Fukui.

Shooting date: July 12 2008

Access: From Katsuyama station on Echizen Railway, take a Keifuku Bus bound for Oyadani via Heisenji. Get off at “Heisenji Hakusan Jinja Mae”/ 50 minutes by car from Maruoka or Fukuikita IC on Hokuriku Expressway

Address: Heisenji, Heisenji-cho, Katsuyama city

Hours: 8：00～17：00

Entry fee: Free of charge　※In order to look at the former Genjoin Garden, you need permission from Hiraizumi Family. A fee of 50yen apply.

Inquiries: 0779-88-1591

Katchaman’s Amazing JAPAN guide at Fukui Katsuyama-shi Power Spot (Sacred Place) “TARATARAYAMA HAKURYU NO TAKI” [たらたら山白龍の滝・福井県勝山市]

katchaman — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 07:12:40 +0000

In TARATARAYAMA HAKURYU NO TAKI [たらたら山　白龍の滝], we can drink the sacred water. Here is a mystic waterfall.

Shooting date: July 12 2008

Access: Echizen Tetsudo(Railway) Katsuyama-Eiheiji line’s Katsuyama Station. By Community Bus it takes 14 minutes to Onsen Center MIZUBASHO bus stop, after walk 15 miniutes. えちぜん鉄道勝山永平寺線勝山駅から京福バス温泉センター経由矢戸口行きで11分、またはコミュニティーバスで14分、温泉センター水芭蕉下車、徒歩15分

Refer to http://info.pref.fukui.jp/kokusai/tagengo/html_e/koutuu/bus_oku.html

Media Regarding TARATARAYAMA:

http://vision.ameba.jp/watch.do?movie=843988

http://ameblo.jp/katsuyamashimin/entry-10089919835.html

Katchaman’s Amazing JAPAN guide at Fukuoka Power Spot (Sacred Place) “Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine” [大宰府天満宮・福岡県]

katchaman — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:47:46 +0000

According to Dazaifu Tenmangu’s Website, Dazaifu Tenmangu is a shrine built over the grave of Michizane Sugawara venerated by the Japanese throughout the country as the Tenman-Tenjin (the deified spirit of Michizane), or the God of literature or calligraphy. Michizane, who had been a high-ranking government officer, was demoted because of the slander and political chicanery of his rivals, the Fujiwara clan. He endured a life of extreme hardship and misery in exile at Dazaifu, yet preserved his character continuing his scholarly studies and never developing the hatred for those who had exiled him. He died in 903 at the age of 59. His funeral procession was a melancholy occasion, attended only by his faithful follower Yasuyuki Umasake and a few neighbors. The coffin was carried on a cow carriage led by Yasuyuki, according to the legend the ox suddenly came to a halt and refused to budge despite threats and entreaties. The burial therefore took place on the spot, and this became the site of the Tenmangu’s main shrine visited today by so many admirers. Michizane is celebrated as a man, pure in heart and deed, and after his death he was deified and worshipped as a God.

There are approximately 6,000 plum trees of 197 varieties in the vicinity of Tenmangu, reflecting Michizane’s lifelong affection and regard for the trees and their blossoms. Perhaps the most famous is the one to the right of HONDEN (main shrine). Known as TOBIUME (the flying plum tree), legend has it that after Michizane left Kyoto for a life in exile, this particular tree yearned so much for him that, uprooting himself, it flew to reunite with him in Dazaifu.

Shooting date: June 21 2008

Address: 4-7-1 Saifu, Dazaifu-shi, Fukuoka
Access: http://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/other/acc_e.htm
Admission Fee: Free in the shrine precincts Houmotsu-den (Treasury Hall): 300 yen (regular fee
Website: http://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/other/index.htm

Katchaman’s Amazing JAPAN guide at Oita Power Spot (Sacred Place) “USA Jingu Shrine” [宇佐神宮・大分県]

katchaman — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:10:10 +0000

Usa Jingu Shrine is the main home for all(44,000) Hachiman-gu shrines around Japan. I can recommend USA Jingu Shrine as one of the best sacred place in Japan.
Usa jingu Shrine, constructed in the 6th century, is dedicated to the Emperor Ojin, his mother Empress Jingu - both of whom are legendary - and his deified wife Hime Okami. Usa-jingu is the chief of Japan’s Hachiman-gu shrines dedicated to the continental god of war. Hondo, the Main Hall of the Usa-jingu, composed of buildings constructed originally in the 8th century, is an example of Hachiman architecture, and is designated as a National Treasure. Important Cultural Properties at Usa-jingu Shrine include the Korean-made bronze bell and the sword. Surviving classical documents relating to the shrine have been designated as Tangible Cultural Properties by Oita Prefecture.